What the Health? From 窪蹋勛圖厙 News

Join Julie Rovner, chief Washington correspondent for 窪蹋勛圖厙 News, along with top health policy reporters from The New York Times, The Washington Post, Politico and other media outlets to discuss the latest news and explain what the health is going on here in Washington.

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If you have a question for the podcast, you can send it to whatthehealth@kff.org.

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  • Podcast

    KHNs What the Health?: Delta Blues

    Covid is back with a vengeance, with some people clamoring for booster shots while others harden their resistance to getting vaccinated at all. Meanwhile, the Food and Drug Administration is pushing hard on drugmaker Pfizers request to upgrade the emergency authorization for its vaccine and give it final approval. Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, Rachel Cohrs of Stat and Sarah Karlin-Smith of the Pink Sheet join KHNs Julie Rovner to discuss these issues and more. Also, for extra credit, the panelists suggest their favorite health policy stories of the week they think you should read, too.

  • Podcast

    KHNs What the Health?: Hot Covid Summer

    The summer that promised to let Americans resume a relatively normal life is turning into another summer of anxiety and face masks, as the delta variant drives covid caseloads up in all 50 states. Meanwhile, the Americans with Disabilities Act turns 35, and the Missouri Supreme Court orders the state to expand Medicaid after all. Mary Ellen McIntire of CQ Roll Call, Anna Edney of Bloomberg News and Rachana Pradhan of KHN join KHNs Julie Rovner to discuss these issues and more. Also, Rovner interviews KHNs Samantha Young, who reported and wrote the latest KHN-NPR Bill of the Month episode about an Olympic-level athlete with an Olympic-size medical bill.

  • Podcast

    KHNs What the Health?: Delta Changes the Covid Conversation

    With covid cases on the upswing again around the country, partisan division remains over how to address the pandemic. Meanwhile, the Biden administration proposes bigger penalties for hospitals that fail to make their prices public as required. Stephanie Armour of The Wall Street Journal, Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico and Tami Luhby of CNN join KHNs Julie Rovner to discuss these issues and more. Also, for extra credit, the panelists suggest their favorite stories of the week they think you should read, too.

  • Podcast

    KHNs What the Health?: Here Comes Reconciliation

    Democrats in Congress reached a tentative agreement to press ahead on a partisan bill that would dramatically expand health benefits for people on Medicare, those who buy their own insurance and individuals who have been shut out of coverage in states that didnt expand Medicaid. Meanwhile, controversy continues to rage over whether vaccinated Americans will need a booster to protect against covid-19 variants, and who will pay for a new drug to treat Alzheimers disease. Rachel Cohrs of Stat and Sarah Karlin-Smith of the Pink Sheet join KHNs Julie Rovner to discuss these issues and more. Also, Rovner interviews KHNs Rae Ellen Bichell, who reported and wrote the latest KHN-NPR Bill of the Month episode about a mother and daughter who fought an enormous emergency room bill.

  • Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra

    As Congress Wrestles With Plans to Expand Medicare, Becerra Says Any One Will Do

    In an interview for KHNs What the Health? podcast, HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra says the administration is eager for Congress to make changes to Medicare that will provide more benefits and make more older adults eligible for the program. He also said a priority will be making permanent the enhanced premium subsidies for Affordable Care Act marketplace plans.

    By Julie Rovner
  • Podcast

    KHNs What the Health?: Un-Trumping the ACA

    The Biden administration is moving to undo many of the changes the Trump administration made to the enrollment process for the Affordable Care Act to encourage more people to sign up for health insurance. Meanwhile, Congress is opening investigations into the controversial approval by the Food and Drug Administration of an expensive drug that might (or might not) slow the progression of Alzheimers disease. Joanne Kenen of Politico, Kimberly Leonard of Insider and Sarah Karlin-Smith of the Pink Sheet join KHNs Julie Rovner to discuss these issues and more. Also, Rovner interviews Marshall Allen of ProPublica about his new book, Never Pay the First Bill: And Other Ways to Fight the Health Care System and Win.

  • Podcast

    KHNs What the Health?: How to Expand Health Coverage

    Democrats in Congress and the states are devising strategies to expand health coverage through the Affordable Care Act, Medicare, Medicaid and a public option. But progress remains halting, at best. Meanwhile, lawmakers in Washington may have to agree on how to control prescription drug prices if they wish to finance their coverage initiatives. Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, Tami Luhby of CNN and Shefali Luthra of The 19th join KHNs Julie Rovner to discuss these issues and more. Also, Rovner interviews Michelle Andrews, who reported and wrote last months KHN-NPR Bill of the Month episode about a very expensive sleep study.

  • Podcast

    KHNs What the Health?: The ACA Lives

    In a surprisingly strong 7-2 decision, the Supreme Court turned back the latest constitutional challenge to the Affordable Care Act, likely heralding the end of GOP efforts to strike the law in its entirety through court action. Meanwhile, Democratic lawmakers are looking for ways to expand health benefits. Joanne Kenen of Politico, Mary Ellen McIntire of CQ Roll Call and Rachel Cohrs of Stat join KHNs Julie Rovner to discuss these issues and more. Also, Rovner interviews Andy Slavitt, who recently stepped down from the Biden administrations covid response team, about his new book on the pandemic.

  • Podcast

    KHNs What the Health?: Our 200th Episode!

    The federal approval of a controversial drug to treat Alzheimers disease has reignited the debate over drug prices and the way the Food and Drug Administration makes decisions. Meanwhile, President Joe Biden seeks to gain goodwill overseas as he announces the U.S. will provide 500 million doses of covid vaccine to international health efforts. Sarah Karlin-Smith of the Pink Sheet, Margot Sanger-Katz of The New York Times and Joanne Kenen of Politico join KHNs Julie Rovner to discuss these issues and more. Also, Rovner interviews Chiquita Brooks-LaSure, the new administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. And to mark the podcasts 200th episode, the panelists discuss what has surprised them most and least over the past four years.

  • Podcast

    KHNs What the Health?: The Drug Price Dilemma

    Republicans, Democrats and the public at large agree that prices for prescription drugs are too high. But no one seems to know how to fix it. Vanderbilt University drug price researcher Stacie Dusetzina explains the basics of why drugs cost so much and why its hard to do something about it. Joanne Kenen of Politico, Sarah Karlin-Smith of the Pink Sheet and Anna Edney of Bloomberg News join KHNs Julie Rovner to discuss the prospects for policy changes.

  • Podcast

    KHNs What the Health?: The Return of the Public Option

    Lawmakers are working on fleshing out the concept of a public option, a government-run or heavily regulated insurance plan that would compete with private insurance. But the details are complicated, both substantively and politically. Meanwhile, bioethicists are debating whether the U.S. should be vaccinating low-risk adolescents against covid-19 while high-risk adults in other countries are still waiting. Margot Sanger-Katz of The New York Times, Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico and Rachana Pradhan of KHN join KHNs Julie Rovner to discuss these issues and more. Plus, for extra credit, the panelists recommend their favorite health policy stories of the week they think you should read, too.

  • Podcast

    KHNs What the Health?: Roe v. Wade on the Ropes

    The newly conservative Supreme Court will hear a case that could overturn the nationwide right to abortion and cause political upheaval. Meanwhile, the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions abrupt announcement that vaccinated people can take off their masks in most places has caused upheaval of its own. Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, Sarah Karlin-Smith of the Pink Sheet and Mary Ellen McIntire of CQ Roll Call join KHNs Julie Rovner to discuss these issues and more. Plus, for extra credit, the panelists recommend their favorite health policy stories of the week they think you should read, too.

  • Podcast

    KHNs What the Health?: Drug Price Effort Hits a Snag

    Democratic leaders in Congress have vowed to pass legislation to address high prescription drug prices this year, but some moderates in their own party appear to be balking. Meanwhile, younger teens are now eligible for a covid-19 vaccine and the Biden administration reinstated anti-discrimination policy for LGBTQ people in health care. Joanne Kenen of Politico, Sarah Karlin-Smith of the Pink Sheet and Rachel Cohrs of Stat join KHNs Julie Rovner to discuss these issues and more.

  • Podcast

    KHNs What the Health?: Sharing Vaccines With the World

    The Biden administration is bucking the drug industry and backing a waiver of covid-19 vaccine patent protections to help the rest of the world vaccinate its populations. Here at home, the Food and Drug Administration wants to ban menthol flavorings for cigarettes, setting off a fight with the tobacco industry. Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, Tami Luhby of CNN and Kimberly Leonard of Business Insider join KHNs Julie Rovner to discuss these issues and more. Plus, for extra credit, the panelists recommend their favorite health policy stories of the week they think you should read, too.

  • Podcast

    KHNs What the Health?: 100 Days of Health Policy

    Its 100 days into Joe Bidens presidency and a surprisingly large number of health policies have been announced. But health is notably absent from the administrations $1.8 trillion spending plan for American families, making it unclear how much more will get done this year. Meanwhile, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention loosens its mask-wearing recommendations for those who have been vaccinated, but the new rules are confusing. Joanne Kenen of Politico, Mary Ellen McIntire of CQ Roll Call and Sarah Karlin-Smith of the Pink Sheet join KHNs Julie Rovner to discuss these issues and more. Plus, Rovner interviews KHNs Julie Appleby, who reported the latest KHN-NPR Bill of the Month episode.

  • Podcast

    KHNs What the Health?: Picking Up the Pace of Undoing Trump Policies

    The Biden administration has started to speed efforts to reverse health policies forged under Donald Trump. Most recently, the administration overturned a ban on fetal tissue research and canceled a last-minute extension of a Medicaid waiver for Texas. That latter move may delay the Senate confirmation of President Joe Bidens nominee to head the Medicare and Medicaid programs, as Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) seeks to fight back. Anna Edney of Bloomberg News, Rachel Cohrs of Stat and Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico join KHNs Julie Rovner to discuss these issues and more. Plus, for extra credit, the panelists recommend their favorite health policy stories of the week they think you should read, too.

  • Podcast

    KHNs What the Health?: Health Care as Infrastructure

    President Joe Bidens infrastructure proposal includes items not traditionally considered infrastructure, including a $400 billion expansion of home and community-based services for seniors and people with disabilities, and a $50 billion effort to replace water pipes lined with lead. Meanwhile, the politics of covid-19 are turning to how or whether Americans will need to prove theyve been vaccinated. Joanne Kenen of Politico, Tami Luhby of CNN and Sarah Karlin-Smith of the Pink Sheet join KHNs Julie Rovner to discuss these issues and more. Plus, Rovner interviews KFFs Mollyann Brodie about the KFF COVID-19 Vaccine Monitor.

  • Podcast

    KHNs What the Health?: Planning for Round Two

    The ink is barely dry on the recent covid relief bill, but Democrats in Congress and President Joe Biden are wasting no time gearing up for their next big legislative package. Meanwhile, predictions of more states expanding Medicaid have proved premature. Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, Rachel Cohrs of Stat and Kimberly Leonard of Business Insider join KHNs Julie Rovner to discuss these issues and more. Plus, Rovner interviews KHNs Lauren Weber, who reported the latest KHN-NPR Bill of the Month episode.